"Zero Dark Thirty" named best film by National Board of Review

US-NATIONALBOARD:"Zero Dark Thirty" named best film by National Board of Review

NEW YORK (Reuters) - "Zero Dark Thirty," filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow's action thriller about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, was named best film of 2012 on Wednesday by the National Board of Review, which also named Bigelow best director.

Jessica Chastain, who plays the starring role of a young CIA officer pursuing bin Laden in "Zero Dark Thirty," was named best actress, while Bradley Cooper took home best actor honors for his portrayal of a bipolar former teacher in "Silver Linings Playbook."

The wins for "Zero Dark Thirty" boost the prospects for the not-yet-released movie in the run-up to the Oscars, the film world's highest honors.

(Reporting By Christine Kearney, editing by John Wallace)

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